I've had this experience with one client (the subject of my other thread) where the son-in-law was very "barat." He kept on haggling with our set price even to the point of telling us that "10 years ago, we only paid this much..." The "10 years ago" part slipped my mind and I almost agreed with their price. Good thing my wife caught it and pointed it to them. Still, we don't want to be so greedy so we just put some margin over their price and just have them agreed that we will only be giving them a service-only package.

I've always thought that when you present your packages to a potential client where you list your prices, they could just take it or leave it. Like when you look at a menu in a restaurant. Or maybe it's just me.

Yes! Most, if not all our potential clients haggle. Perhaps because we freelance and don't have a shop. But we haven't encountered one that will compare prices 10 years ago. That's simply outrageous!

Most of the time they'll tell us to give them discounts 'cause they'll refer us to their friends.

perfectly normal to haggle..we got it from our moms, right?:) one thing more, since you're stateside, it's always nice to give a kabayan a nice discount.

It really depends on your business practice. I really don't give discount even when I started though it's very tough then. Sometimes, I give out some freebies in exchange of discount. That depends on how much I want to get the client.

Comparing us to other photographer is very normal but that's a clear indication that they don't have any idea yet about your work. They don't have idea also how much wedding photography have developed over 10 years.

Over the years, most of my clients don't haggle anymore. Some still do but not as much as before. I also got used to saying "no".

A friend once said that if you charge a cheap rate and deliver high quality service. That quality looses its value.

Since I just started out shooting professionally I found it really hard to stick to a price range, and being new to the business and in the clients opinion untested, they haggle so hard that if you let them get your way they will bleed you dry. Most times, I have to let them go since they really expect you to give in to their demands, not a good way to win clients but I believe that each of us have our own quality standards as well.

hmmm...some possibilities

1. standard discounts to clients (who will ask for it). say, 5-10% off.
2. rebates system..some percentage (5-10%) for every client they refer after their wedding.
3. freebies (sign frame, pre-nup photos or a bottle of cheap wine)

but of course, as most evil business persons do, add the "discount charge" to the package rate even before you give the discount so you still get the original rate in full!hehehe

Haggling charges is normal for clients. But in my own little experience, client like those is a pain in the neck even after the job is done. "Hindi lang barat, reklamador pa". No quality will satisfy them.

Hi Guys,

Let me share to you some things I learned from Marketing and Sales from the Corporate World before I became serious in Photography. We have to distinguish Prospects from Customers and Clients.

Prospects are people who inquire about your services and will ask other suppliers for their price list and make a comparative analysis. They are also known as the rate shoppers who don't care much about quality but more on price.

Customers are people who have availed of your professional services once and later on disappear because they were either not happy with your last performance or found someone else with better quality of work or package options.

Clients on the other hand are people who will give you long-lasting business relationship. They might complain but they will tell you solutions on how to avoid it in the future. They are loyal to you and will give you referrals and free advertisement through good word of mouth.

Haggling is normal but as what I've learned in Business School, the standard mark-up is 100%, 150% or 200%. It depends actually on your experience, expertise, overhead cost, operational expense and target market. Due to the current economic conditons of the market, it is not advisable to give discounts but more on extra service or free items like extra CD proof that will only cost you less than Php 100.00 or USD 2.00. Regardless of one's nationality, a customer would feel good if you give them something in return for the business that they have given you. In my case, I give them extra prints and sometimes a simple 8x10 family portrait and that already delights them. Discounts are sometimes not appreciated anymore because of its low monetary value. It's better to give clients something more tangible, meaningful and memorable. We should also show our concern to them by helping them save on cost like when I did an out of town corporate photoshoot, instead of charging them extra out-of town rate, I simply requested them to provide me a company car, complete with driver and take care of my food, snacks, drinks and toll-fee. They appreciated it and will give me other projects in the future like their Christmas Party.

Hope you guys learned something. When we compromise, it should always benefit both parties concerned namely: The Photographer (service-provider) and client. As what I have said in my previous comments in other threads, when you have a good portfolio to show and the client can see your high standard of work, they will no longer ask for a discount but even ask for extra service. I was supposed to have only a two (2) day photoshoot with a multi-national company but after I explained to them that the studio lights we will be using is from Switzerland and showed them my portfolio, I ended up having a three (3) day contract and my work was even submitted to their Regional Office in Singapore for their world-wide database. I'm now working on my next project with them which is about their advertising campaigns and possible billboards in the Philippines. Until then. Good Luck and Live the Good Life.

Haggling charges is normal for clients. But in my own little experience, client like those is a pain in the neck even after the job is done. "Hindi lang barat, reklamador pa". No quality will satisfy them.

I agree with you, sometimes the client who gets your high end packages are the ones who are easy to deal with rather than those who will get your low end rates but expect more of what they paid for.

No discounts. If they came to you, most likely they know your rates and were prepared to pay it. Most are just trying their luck.

Almost all prospective clients do bargain and some bargain hard, that's why I reserve a "discount" buffer on my packages list. That way, if they start to haggle, I have a small leeway to give. Most clients are happy if they were able to haggle the price down P3k-P5k. :)

Almost all prospective clients do bargain and some bargain hard, that's why I reserve a "discount" buffer on my packages list. That way, if they start to haggle, I have a small leeway to give. Most clients are happy if they were able to haggle the price down P3k-P5k. :)
True. True. :) I liked the term "Discount Buffer"... We should all be prepared...:D